1. We started with a word of encouragement from Mark 4:35.

    • …[Yeshua] said unto [His disciples], Let us pass over unto the other side [of the Sea of Galilee]. When they had sent away the multitude, they took Him even as He was in the ship …There arose a fierce storm, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was full. [Yeshua] was in the back of the ship, asleep… They woke Him, saying, Master, don't You care that we are perishing? He arose, rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, Peace, be still. The wind ceased, and there was a great calm. And He said to them, Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith? And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, What manner of Man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey Him?

      Mark 4:35-41

    • We were exhorted to recognize that God always cares, both about us and His nation Israel. Therefore, we were also encouraged to believe more in what the Bible declares is God's will for this nation than what we read or see in the headlines.

    • Lord, forgive us for ever believing that You do not care! We repent of that heart attitude.

    • Yeshua, we bless You for speaking "shalom/peace" into all of our storms.

    • Help us to fix our eyes on You and put more confidence in You than in the world.

  2. Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu is under increasing pressure to bend to the wishes of the world and divide this land to create a Palestinian State. We believe that given a choice, he would rather do what is in line with God's Word. It is imperative that we keep Bibi covered in prayer.

    • Lord, again we thank You for Bibi Netanyahu.

    • We ask that You would draw him closer to Yourself over this Yom Kippur weekend. [Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, the most important of the LORD's feasts (Lev. 16:1-34; 23:1, 26-32), starts tonight at sunset and ends after sunset tomorrow evening. Most Jews, whether in or outside of Israel, fast and pray on this day.]

    • Save Bibi Netanyahu. Reveal Messiah Yeshua to him.

    • Protect the unity of his immediate family. Bless and protect his wife Sarah and their sons.

    • Speak clearly to him about the dangers of this current "peace" process and strengthen him in Yourself.

    • We declare over Bibi:

      There are many devices in a man's heart; nevertheless the counsel of LORD [YHWH], that shall stand.

      Prov. 19:21

      The king's [prime minister's] heart is in the hand of LORD, as the rivers of water: He turns it wherever he will.

      Prov. 21:1

    • Move on him with the wisdom of Solomon.

    • Thank You for his decision to end the settlement freeze on September 26. Now hold him and the government into that commitment - regardless of the world pressure.

    • Protect Netanyahu from all the schemes of the enemy - especially that which comes from the current US Obama administration.

      Surely there is no enchantment against Jacob, neither is there any divination against Israel: according to this time it shall be said of Jacob and of Israel, What has God wrought!

      Num. 23:23

    • God, we remind You of Your promise to raise up in Israel strong leaders, shepherds after Your own heart, when You returned her to Your/her land in the last days (Isa. 1:25-26; Jer. 3:15; 23:3-4; Zech. 12:6).

  3. Israel's Defense Minister Ehud Barak is a stumbling block to this current coalition. He is the main voice for a more liberal, unbiblical, compromising stance and has been enticed by the Obama Administration to be their man in this Israeli cabinet.

    • Yeshua, the government is ultimately on Your shoulders (Isa. 9:7). We therefore ask that You would hedge Ehud Barak in and not allow him to influence Bibi to do that which is not in line with Your will.

    • Change him or replace him with someone who has an outlook that is more biblical.

    • We declare over Barak, A man's heart devises his way: but LORD directs his steps. (Prov. 16:9)

    • On Yom Kippur, deal with Barak and let him see himself as You see him - beloved but lost in sin and rebellion. May he humbled himself before You and be saved!

    • Arise God. Break the ungodly connection between Israel's Barak and America's Barak.

  4. As Yom Kippur is usually spent in prayer and repentance by most Jews in Israel and elsewhere, we read Daniel 9:1-19 out loud. Then we prayed for Israel's salvation. Yom Kippur is a wonderful day for believers to pray for this, because on this day many Jews fast and pray and repent so that God might write their name in the Book of Life.

    • I entreat you also, true yokefellow, help those…whose names are in the book of life.

      Phil. 4:3

      It was given unto [the anti-Christ] to make war with the saints, and to overcome them… And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.

      Rev. 13:7-8

    • We bless You because we know there are more Jewish people in the Kingdom of Your Son this Yom Kippur than there were last year at this time.

    • We intercede for the following groups of people and ask for a significant remnant of each to be saved this year: government officials; Holocaust survivors; young men and women serving in Israel's army; Israeli youth; widows and orphans; the Orthodox community; religious settlers; the Gaza refugees; Jews in the New Age and gay communities; those who have immigrated to Israel last year; unsaved loved ones of Messianic Jewish believers; the handicapped - both mental or physical.

    • We remind You of Jewish people who have been consistently prayed for over the years and are still in darkness.

      O LORD, save Your people, the remnant of Israel.

      Jer. 31:7

    • Let the Angel of LORD visit many throughout this land tonight and tomorrow.

    • I am not ashamed of the gospel of Messiah, for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one who believes - to the Jew first, and also to the gentile. For in it is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as written, The just shall live by faith.

      Rom. 1:16-17

  5. Most non-Jewish believers in the world will not even know that tomorrow is a moed - a time set aside by God to meet with His people. This goes to the very heart of the deception that ruins Messiah's Body. The Bible really does begin at Genesis 1:1 - not Matthew 1:1. And everything in the Old Testament/Tanach is there for the Church's edification (1 Cor. 10:11-12). Yet when we are blind to that, 75% of God's revelation of Himself and His ways is ignored - along with any hope for a solid biblical foundation for our faith in Yeshua. Read, trust and believe that the Tanach is still the Word of God for you today!

    • Lord Yeshua, open up the eyes of more of Your children to see that the Tanach is the foundation of our faith.

    • Help them to notice all of the times that the New Testament says, as it is written, thus referring back to the Tanach.

    • Raise up more believers throughout Your Body like those in Berea.

      The brothers sent Paul and Silas away by night unto Berea. [On arrival, they] went into the synagogue of the Jews. These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures [Tanach] daily, whether those things were so. Therefore many [Jews] believed, and also [many gentiles].

      Acts 17:10-12

    • Lord, replace Replacement theology with the truth of Your Word.

    • Sanctify [us] through Your truth. Your word is truth.

      John 17:17

    • Concerning the leaders in the Body, if they are deceived about the Tanach and the place of Israel in Your kingdom plans, open their eyes and let them see.

    • Concerning leaders who are knowingly deceiving the flock - wolves in sheep's clothing - expose and remove them openly so that Your fear falls on Your Body again (Acts 5:5,11; 9:31; 19:13-17).

  6. Aliyah, the immigration of Jews home to Israel, was up this past Jewish calendar year by around 20%. This is good news and an answer to many prayers. And as the prayers of Yom Kippur end with "Next Year in Jerusalem"…!

    • Lord, when Your people in exile say "Next year in Jerusalem," may Your Spirit move mightily and urge them to make it a reality.

    • May this be so for all the Messianic Jews who proclaim this as well.

    • Thank You for the thousands of young people exposed to Israel by various programs like Birthright. When they are here, marry them to this land (Isa. 62:4-5) and when they return to exile - make them homesick for Your/their land (Psa. 137:4-6).

    • Bring home all the Israelis who are living outside this land - for whatever reason.

    • Abba, remove all stones of stumbling from the path of Your people when they attempt to make aliyah. Especially, in Israel's Interior Ministry, remove all those who do not have a heart for Zion (Isa. 62:10).

    • Thank You for Israel's strong and healthy economy which is so very attractive compared to the economic situation in most others nations. Use it to draw Your people home.

    • Watch over this word for Your holy name's sake:

      When I have brought them again from the people, gathered them out of their enemies' lands, and am sanctified in them in the sight of many nations; then shall they know that I am LORD their God, who caused them to be led into captivity among the gentiles, but I have gathered them to their own land, and have left none of them any more [in exile]. Neither will I hide My face any more from them: for I have poured out My spirit upon the house of Israel, says the Lord GOD.

      Ezek. 39:27-29

    • Praise LORD, for it is good to sing praises unto our God… LORD builds up Jerusalem. He gathers together the outcasts of Israel. He heals the broken in heart, and binds up their wounds.

      Psalms 147:1-3

      Amen!

  7. We finished by praying into the Iranian situation. Since Iran refuses to cooperate with the international community, it seems obvious that they are hiding something. And since the Iranian leadership - not just President Ahmadinejad - has threaten to wipe Israel off the map, this is an area of grave concern and danger. Yet, Israel's God reigns (Isa. 52:7b).

    • Lord, we are dealing with that ancient spirit of Persia - who tried to kill Daniel (Dan. 6:1-28), then all of Your people (Est. 3:1-15). God to defend us for Your sake.

    • Not unto us, O LORD, not unto us, but unto Your name give glory, for Your mercy, and for Your truth's sake. Why should the nations say, Where is now their God? But our God is in the heavens. He has done whatsoever He has pleased.

      Psa. 115:1-3

    • Lord, thank You for saving multitudes of Iranians:

      I will set My throne in Elam [ancient Iran/Persia]…

      Jer. 49:38a

    • Please watch over the second part of that verse and remove their wicked leadership:

      …and I will destroy from there the king and the princes, says LORD.

      Jer. 49:38b

    • Reveal to Israel's current leadership what to do and when to do it - if You are wanting to use Israel as Your weapon of war against Iran (Jer. 51:20-24).

Shabbat shalom and blessings from all of us on the IFI Team

When I shall have gathered the house of Israel
from the people among whom they are scattered,
and shall be sanctified in them in the sight of the nations,
then shall they dwell in their land I have given to My servant Jacob.
They shall dwell safely, and build houses, and plant vineyards.
Yes, they shall dwell with confidence, when I have executed judgments
upon all those that despise them round about them.
And they shall know that I am LORD their God.

Ezekiel 28:25-26